BRITAIN’S two right-wing political parties are moving slowly towards a pact to fight the next general election.

Like the courtship dance of two particularly poisonous scorpions, the Tories and Reform are starting to resign themselves to the necessity of some form of an alliance by 2029.

Reform leader Nigel Farage is reported to have told major donors that the two parties will have to come to an agreement to defeat Labour, with his party holding the ship hand.

Sir Keir Starmer called the projected pact “an unholy alliance of austerity and failure,” which unfortunately describes his own government too.

Mr Farage denied the reports today, but in language that leaves little room for doubt that an agreement is indeed a possibility.

He said: “A false story claims Reform would do a deal with the Tories.

“After 14 years of dishonesty and lies they should never be forgiven. The idea I’d work with them is ludicrous.

“They betrayed my trust in 2019 and we will ensure they cease to be a national party in May.”

But he also told the Financial Times, which broke the story: “ After next May, the Conservatives will no longer be a national party.

“I would never do a deal with a party that I don’t trust. No deals, just a reverse takeover. A deal with them as they are would cost us votes.”

The phrase “as they are” leaves Mr Farage plenty of wriggle room to cut a deal if the Tories should come under new management, most likely that of shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, who has recently refashioned himself as a national-populist.

Farage is looking to a Tory wipeout in next May’s devolved and local elections to precipitate a change which might align the Tories with his party. Reform is presently polling around 30 per cent of the vote, with the Tories on 17 or 18.

Mr Jenrick said: “My leader Kemi Badenoch said there won’t be a deal. Nigel Farage has said there won’t be a deal so there won’t be a deal.”

Again, that is seen as a signal that if Ms Badenoch, presently enjoying a slight personal bounce in her abysmal polling, ceased being leader, the equation could change. Nor did Mr Jenrick say that there should not be an agreement.

For Reform, an alliance would be a powerful boost in its drive for a Commons majority at the next election. For the Tories, it may simply be a matter of survival.